Greek Hell waiting for Atletico Madrid

Today the draw was made for the playoff round of the 2009-2010 edition of the UEFA Champions League. Panathinaikos will rival Atletico Madrid, the only team that will play this Spanish phase. The Greek team has a good squad, with Djibril Cissé, the Brazilian Gilberto Silva, Argentine Sebastian Leto and Greeks Katsouranis and Karagounis as its most important figures. Sotiris Ninis also has among its ranks, a young Greek who still did not show its full potential, but when I do, no doubt most of the big teams posing eyes on him.

Despite having a good squad, the more complicated rival team will be hell Greek mattress. The pressure influences Panathinaikos fans, and too much on the rival group, a situation very similar to that experienced in South American football. A full proof of this was the tough match against Villarreal for the second round of the Champions League 08/09, although the Yellow Submarine finally managed to win by 2 to 1. Atletico must overcome this ordeal to get into the group stage this year, against a team that has been growing in Europe in recent years.

Nine more games will be played at par with the encounter between the Spanish and the Greeks, these are: FC Sheriff-Olympiacos, Kobenhavn-APOEL, Celtic, Arsenal, FC Timisoara-Stuttgart, Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina, Levski Sofia-Debreceni VSC, Lyon -Anderlecht, Salzburg-Ventspils, Maccabi Haifa and Zurich. The first legs will be played between 18 and 19 August, returning between 25 and 26 November.

Photo: Daylife

Share this entry